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More middle-aged Americans have defective medical device issues

The human body is an amazing work of art with its carefully designed structure and processes that allow people to live their lives comfortably for many years. On the other hand, the human body is also fragile and will eventually begin to break down, which prevents many people in West Virginia from enjoying certain physical activities that they used to when they were younger. This is where medical technology comes in, which has allowed people to literally replace broken parts of their body through medical implants. However, problems arise when a defective medical device does not function properly.

This is an even more pertinent concern now since middle-aged Americans are beginning to obtain medical implants significantly younger in life than in previous generations. More than twice as many people between the ages of 45 and 64 obtained hip replacements in 2010 compared to 2000, reported the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Also, knee replacements had risen 213 percent during this same time period.

Although these treatments have been largely successful, there are still a significant number of cases involving faulty medical devices which cause problems for patients. Some of these include, faulty defibrillator wires, defective artificial hips as well as leaking drug pumps. These can cause severe complications for patients as well as serious pain and in the worst case scenario a defective medical device can even cause death. Manufacturers recall 25 to 40 medical devices annually due to dangerous problems caused by faulty medical devices.

Federal regulatory agencies have been under pressure to increase their oversight activities as a result of the growing occurrences of defective medical implant lawsuits being filed in West Virginia and other states. The plaintiffs of these lawsuits have the chance to obtain monetary reimbursement for any injuries or complications they may have suffered as a result of defective medical device problems. However, in order to prevail they will have to know how to apply the relevant laws to medical evidence in order to show that a defective device had caused them injuries.